The federal government could reduce real estate by up to 30 percent and save billions.
The General Services Administration, the real estate manager of the federal government, is considering selling up to 30 percent of federal office space to match the new hybrid work culture adopted throughout the administration. About half of the federal office leases are set to expire within the next five years, and using that as an opportunity to shrink the federal office footprint to better fit the hybrid work culture could save the federal government about $60 billion in the coming decade.
“Right now, agencies across the government are rethinking how much space they actually need,” GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan told the House Oversight and Accountability Committee during a hearing the week. “And while GSA doesn’t make space decisions for agencies, we do work closely with them to leverage our team’s expertise to help agencies plan and whenever possible to downsize.”
The GSA manages roughly 1,500 federally owned buildings. Administrator Carnahan supports workforce flexibility and worked less than half the time on-site in Washington, D.C., between March 2022 and March 2023.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for members of the House Oversight Committee as they consider the GSA administrator’s proposed reduction in federally owned or leased real estate.
- For federal agency directors and administrators as they navigate the challenges of in-person versus remote work.
- For Administrator Carnahan to seek God’s guidance as she oversees the GSA.
Sources: Federal News Network, Axios
